Media

DES MOINES, Iowa — Ahead of the Iowa Utilities Board (IUB) public hearing that will take place this Thursday in Boone, Iowa, U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders became the first Democratic presidential candidate to oppose the construction of the Bakken Pipeline. Sanders released the following statement regarding the construction and implementation of the Bakken Pipeline:

“The major global crisis facing our planet today is climate change. The vast majority of scientists tell us that climate change is real, it is caused by humans, and it is already causing devastating problems. They say that if we do not aggressively transition our energy system away from fossil fuels toward energy efficiency and sustainable energy, the planet we leave our children will be a much less habitable place.

“I’ve helped lead the opposition to the Keystone XL pipeline since day one because we should not be excavating and transporting some of the dirtiest fuel. I’ve introduced the most comprehensive legislation in the Senate, which among other things, called for a tax on carbon pollution.

“Last week, I co-sponsored legislation which prevents the government from leasing federal lands in the future for fossil fuel excavation. I’m opposed to the construction of the Bakken ‘crude oil’ pipeline because as a nation, our job is to break our addiction to fossil fuels, and not increase our dependence on oil, coal, and other carbon pollution sources.”